Hi Dewi,

Getting through the holidays can be tough. There are lot's of reasons that people find particular holidays stressful. They can be particularly hard when it feels like everyone around you is happy and celebrating when we are going through a tough time.

If you are feeling down it's a good idea to talk to someone you trust about how you have been feeling. This will help you release tension, get things into perspective and develop strategies so that you can enjoy the holidays.

Treating yourself is a good idea and making sure we take time out to do things we enjoy is really important. You say that you don't have much money but there are lot's of things you can do for free that can help you relax during the holidays. Depending on what kind of things you like to do you could take time out to read a book, go for a walk or do some art work.

You can also check out these other holiday blogs from our site with heaps of tips for getting through holidays. The blogs are written for specific holidays but the tips can be applied to any holiday.

Being your own valentine:

Holiday survival guide

Getting enough sleep during the holidays

Planning, presents and pressures /

Does anyone else have any tips or advise for how they get through the holidays?
Roisin

Not liknoog forward to the holidays this year haven’t even got the money to treat myself to anything.

Hi Lucy,

Trying to figure out what you’re feeling can be really confusing. Sometimes it’s easier to pretend that everything is ok, even when it’s not. If you feel like you’re covering up your feelings, talking about it can really help. If you have a friend, a family member, a school counsellor (if your school has one) or a teacher you trust, try and open up to them. It might seem scary, but it can feel like a weight has lifted just by sharing your feelings and thoughts with someone.

Looking after yourself by making sure you’re eating right, getting enough exercise and getting the right amount of sleep, can really help us to feel better. If you want to read more on ReachOut.com about minding your mental health, click here.

Sometimes, talking to people we know and looking after ourselves aren’t enough to make us feel better, and we need the help of a professional. If you feel this is the case, your local doctor/GP could be a really good person to talk to. For more information on ReachOut.com about how your GP can help, follow this link

You might also be interested in the online course offered by HeadsUp.ie where you can access computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for free. If you do try it out let us know what you think. Follow this link to find out more

We hope you’re able to open up to someone; whether it’s someone you know and trust or your GP, to get support through this, so that you don't have to smile and cover up your feelings anymore.

Take care,

Fenella

Hi, the way some people feel - smiling and covering up their depression, is exactly how I feel sometimes! But I'm also not really sure if I'm depressed, I'm really confused about it. Could you help me please?